Gordon made a fine save on the half-hour by touching Sylvestre's angled drive over the crossbar.

But Sparta took the lead when the ball fell to Kolar on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder sent an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

As Hearts tried to respond, Pinilla headed straight into the arms of Blazek from a Hartley corner. In the second half an angled shot by Mole was beaten out by Blazek as Hartley failed with the rebound.

Hearts made a double substitution with Ibrahim Tall and Deividas Cesnauskis coming on for Pinilla and Beslija.

Seconds later Sparta substitute Matusovic missed a sitter when he flashed a shot from close range past the far post.

Gordon pulled off an incredible series of saves, blocking Dosek's low drive and Sylvestre's volley and then pushing Matusovic's effort behind for a corner.

But moments later the Scotland keeper was beaten again when Matusovic atoned for his earlier misses by drilling the ball in from distance.